GNED 15 QUIZES

• Greek literature is a compendium of literary works produced by Ancient or Classical Greece from 300 B.C. to 4th Century A.D.
• Greek literature is the starting point for the development of literary genres and themes that form part of western literature
• Greek literature is responsible for the introduction of genres like poetry, tragedy, comedy, and western philosophy to the world
• Greek literature gave rise to the great ideas of humanity and the questions of man and the role he plays in the world, life, death, its virtues, its vices, its pleasures and torments
• Characteristics of Greek Literature


  • Originates in Greece 300 B.C.
  • The first works were transmitted orally
  • The use of prose was present in texts (politics/oratory)
  • Mythology and religious content were always present
  • Had a rich history of both war and peace
  • Made up of 3 stages: Archaic, Classical and Hellenistic
• Edith Hamilton: 'Greek literature is not done in gray or with a low palette. It is all black and shining white or black and scarlet and gold. The Greeks were keenly aware, terribly aware, of life's uncertainty and the imminence of death. Over and over again they emphasize the brevity and the failure of all human endeavor, the swift passing of all that is beautiful and joyful. [...] Joy and sorrow, exultation and tragedy, stand hand in hand in Greek literature, but there is no contradiction involved thereby.'
• Topics/Themes in Greek Literature

  • Greek gods linked to fate or destiny
  • Philosophy linked to morality and reason
  • Politics
  • Greek heroes, their battles and their relationship with the Gods
  • Soul feelings and intimate emotions
  • Great human passions and everyday life
• Archaic Period


  • The literature of the Archaic era mostly centered on myth; part history and part folklore
  • Since writing had not yet arrived in Greece, much of what was created in this period was communicated orally, only to be put in written form years later
  • Homer's epics of the Iliad and the Odyssey and Hesiod's Theogony are significant examples of this period
• Iliad


  Homer's epic centered on the last days of the Trojan War, a war initiated by the love of a beautiful woman, Helen. It brought an array of heroes such as Achilles, Hector, and Paris to generations of Greek youth. It was a poem of contrasts: gods and mortals, divine and human, war and peace.
• Odyssey


  Homer's second work, revolved around the ten-year "odyssey" of the Trojan War hero Odysseus and his attempt to return home.
• Theogony


  Hesiod's work that told of the origins and genealogies of the gods, the kingdom of Zeus. He has been called the father of didactic poetry.
• Other writers of the Archaic Period

  • Aesop
  • Sappho
• Aesop's fables


  Among the first printed works in vernacular English
• Sappho


  One of the few female lyric poets of the period, her poems were hymns to the gods
• Classical Period


  • Oral recitation of poetry, as well as lyric poetry, morphed into drama
  • The purpose of drama was to not only entertain but also to educate the Greek citizen, to explore a problem
  • The Classical era (4th and 5th centuries BCE) centered on the tragedies of such writers as Sophocles and his Oedipus Rex, Euripides's Hippolytus, and the comedies of Aristophanes
  • Aristophanes, author of old comedy, his plays were satires of public persons and affairs as well as candid political criticisms
• Hellenistic Period


  • Greek poetry, prose, and culture expand across the Mediterranean influencing such Roman writers as Horace, Ovid, and Virgil
• Outstanding Greek Representatives


  • Hesiod
  • Socrates
  • Plato
  • Aristotle
  • Herodotus
  • Sappho
  • Anacreon
  • Pindar
  • Aeschylus
  • Sophocles
  • Euripides
• Hesiod


  Greek poet and philosopher, his works are inspired by mythological characters. For many, he is known as the first Greek philosopher.
• Socrates


  Greek philosopher, Plato's master and one of the greatest representatives of Western philosophy. Socrates did not leave written works in life because he believed that each person should develop his own ideas.
• Plato


  Greek philosopher, his works are part of Western classical thought. Among his best known and studied texts, we can mention The Republic.
• Aristotle


  Greek philosopher, logic and scientist; his ideas are part of Western thought. He wrote more than 200 treatises on various subjects such as metaphysics, rhetoric, politics, ethics, among others. Among his most outstanding works, we can mention Nichomachean Ethics. He was the creator of the syllogism and a teacher of Alexander the Great.
• Herodotus


  Historian and geographer, author of Greek cosmogony. Among his best-known works are The Nine Books of History.
• Sappho


  Greek poet, also known as the tenth muse. Among her best-known works is the hymn in honor of Aphrodite.
• Anacreon


  Greek poet who sings the pleasures of life, love and wine. His poetry influenced poets of the Middle Ages. Among his best-known works are the poems Anacreontic.
• Pindar


  Greek choral lyric poet known for his Odes in honor of the Olympic Games. It sings of the life, beauty, strength and vigor of youth.
• Aeschylus


  Greek playwright of tragic works, characterized by giving life to great characters and touching moral and religious themes. Among his best-known works is the trilogy Oresteia.
• Sophocles


  Tragic playwright created from works linked to Greek mythology and with characters who are moved by their will rather than by their destiny. Among his best-known works is Oedipus the King.
• Euripides


  Playwright who revolutionized the Greek tragedy with works full of realism and pessimism, with characters who rebel against the gods. Among his most outstanding works, Hippolytus can be mentioned.
• Classical Works of Greek Literature

  • The Iliad and the Odyssey, Homer
  • The Republic, Plato
  • Oedipus King, Sophocles
  • Rhetorical art, Aristotle
  • Ode to Aphrodite and to the Beloved, Sappho
  • The Nine Books of History, Herodotus
  • Prometheus in chains, Aeschylus
  • Medea, Euripides
• The Judgment of Paris is a story from Greek mythology
• There are many untold stories and information about the Trojan War
• Untold Stories/Information about the Trojan War

  • Odysseus and Achilles had no intent to join the war
  • Iphigenia, daughter of Agamemnon, was sacrificed to ensure a safe voyage to Troy
  • Protesilaus, the first man to land and to die in Troy
  • Laodamia, wife of Protesilaus, killed herself and went to the underworld with him
  • Queen Hecuba, wife of King Priam
  • Chryseis, daughter of Apollo's priest
  • Bryseis was taken from Achilles in replacement of Chryseis
  • Thetis, the sea nymph, mother of Achilles, angry as his son, asked Zeus to give success to Trojans
  • Gods interfered in the Trojan war
  • Gods in favor of the Greeks: Hera, Athena, Poseidon
  • Gods in favor of the Trojans: Zeus, Aphrodite, Ares, Apollo, Artemis
  • Menelaus and Paris engaged in a duel. Menelaus was wounded by Pandarus, a Trojan, persuaded by Athena to shoot an arrow at Menelaus
  • Prince Aeneas, son of Aphrodite, fought alongside Hector, where he was nearly killed by Diomedes
  • Ajax and Diomedes, two greatest champions of the Greeks during Achilles' absence
  • Diomedes wounded Aphrodite and Ares
  • Zeus made fun of Aphrodite and bade her to stay away from the war
  • Astyanax, son of Hector and Andromache
  • Zeus, while at Mount Ida, watching the war, was enchanted by Hera using Aphrodite's girdle
  • Ajax nearly wounded Hector not until Aeneas came
  • Patroclus wore the armor with Achilles' permission
  • Hector wore Achilles' armor after killing Patroclus with a spear
  • Thetis asked God Hephaestus to craft a new armor for Achilles
  • God Xanthus tried to drown Achilles as he crossed the river of Troy in search of Hector
  • Athena was with Achilles when he fought Hector. Athena tricked Hector into thinking that he was with Deiphobus, his brother
  • Hector throw a spear that hit the center of Achilles' shield
  • Zeus sent Iris, messenger of the Gods, to King Priam and told him to redeem his son's body
  • Hector was lamented for nine days
  • Prince Memnon of Ethiopia, came to assist Troy. He was the last battle of Achilles before he was shot by Paris using an arrow which was actually guided by Apollo
  • His bones were placed in the same urn as Patroclus
  • Achilles armor caused the death of Ajax
  • Odysseus got the armor
  • Helenus, a Trojan prophet, was believed to know the future. He was held captive by Odysseus
  • Bow and arrow of Hercules in possession of Prince Philoctetes, was needed to fight the Trojans
  • Philoctetes wounded Paris
  • Paris asked to be brought to Mount Ida to be treated by Oenone, who refused to do so. Instead, she watched him die, then she went away and killed herself
  • Palladium, most sacred image of Athena in Troy
  • Sinon, a most plausible speaker, was left intentionally to tell one of Odysseus' masterpieces
  • Laocoon, a priest, urge Trojans to destroy it
  • Achilles spared Priam, but his son struck him down in front of his family
  • Aeneas, along with his father and son, through the help of her mother Aphrodite, were able to escape
  • Helen was saved and returned to Menelaus by Aphrodite
  • All that was left of Tory was a band of helpless captive woman including Hecuba, and Andromache
  • Polyxena, daughter of Hecuba, was killed. Asytanax, son of Hector, was considered as Troy's last sacrifice